Types of Leather for Luggage
- Leather luggage is full of Old World charm.leather handbag image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
From the verb "to lug," luggage means something that is carted around. Modern light-weight luggage appeared during the World War II. Before that, cases or trunks were made from metal or wood. Luggage is often used as an indicator of wealth, which catalyzes a willingness to spend large amounts of money on pragmatic items, such as bags and cases. Leather is the most expensive and prestigious material for luggage. - Full-grain leather is made from the outer layer of an animal's hide, so it is thick, durable and covered with marks and imperfections. For this reason, some consumers prefer top grain leather, which has no markings. Others consider full grain to have more character. Full-grain leather is the highest quality type of leather and the most expensive. A well-made set of full-grain leather suitcases should last a lifetime. They do not wear over time but develop an attractive patina. They are sold with two finishes, aniline and semi-aniline. Both are dying processes that do not disguise the natural grain of the leather, but semi-aniline treatment uses a transparent protective topcoat, while aniline treatment does not.
- Top grain leather also is taken from the outer layer of the hide, but it is split thinner and treated or sanded to give a smooth, clean surface. Like full grain, it is durable, attractive and expensive. The treatment process weakens the leather slightly, so it is not quite as strong and durable as full grain, but it is more pliable and more resistant to staining.
- Split leather comes from the fibrous lower layers of animal hide, which are stripped apart and processed once the top grain of the rawhide is removed. The quality and durability of the leather is lower than full-grain or top grain leather, and it is more likely to rip or scuff. Although split leather luggage is less durable than other types of leather, it is more durable than many fabric or man-made cases. Suede is a popular form of split leather.
- Napa, or nappa, leather is full-grain leather that has undergone a tanning process that uses salts of chromium or aluminum sulphate. This leaves the leather soft but durable. This type of leather takes dye well and is often colored. Sheep or goat hides are usually used to make nappa. It is very expensive, long-lasting, tactile and attractive.
